I was buying motor oil a couple of weeks ago, I always check the
API ratings on the container. I was surprised to see SL, This is
probably for the new 02 vehicles. But every time the standard is raised
quality greatly improves.
These are standards set by the American Petroleum Institute. For
those who don't know the ratings. S is for Gasoline Engines
And C is for Diesel Engines. The ratings start with SA for Gasoline
Engines & now top out at SL, Diesel Engines start out with CA and
I believe now top out at CE.
Sometimes you will see a combination rating SL/CD this is a
combination gasoline diesel motor oil. This caused problems
with the ford 2300 in the late 70's, at that time the combination
was SE/CC. When owners of Ford Pintos of that era used that
combination, Their Camshafts would wear flat.
SAE rating on the container is the Society Of Automotive
Engineers. This is the viscosity rating of motor oil, 10W-30,
5W-30 ect. This has nothing to do with the quality of the
oil.
The quality of the oil, Or performance standards are rated by
the API. So here they are rated from the bottom to the top.
Gasoline Diesel
SA CA
SB CB
SC CC
SD CD
SE CE
SF
SG
SJ
SL
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